City Attorney

Description

The City of Roanoke, Virginia is seeking a well-rounded, innovative, strategic and responsive professional to provide general legal counsel to a full-service municipality. The City Attorney is the legal counsel to the City Council, the City Manager and other city officials, the School Board, the Superintendent and other school officials including the Greater Roanoke Transit Company, a mass transit system wholly owned by the city. The City Attorney oversees a team of 8-9 to include 2 Deputy City Attorneys, 3-4 Assistant City Attorneys and 3 Administrative Assistants. The City Attorney's Office prepares and reviews all ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and other legal documents. As the City Attorney, major areas of responsibility include litigation, contracts, real estate, land use, environmental, economic development, taxation, collections, employment, civil rights and administrative law. Successful candidates should possess excellent communications skills and be able to effectively manage a legal office and deal with public officials along with the general public. Ten years progressively responsible experience and/or training in the practice of law; preferably municipal law and administrative experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Virginia local government experience preferred. Employment requires licensure by the Virginia State Bar. Salary competitive, DOQ, plus excellent benefits package. EOE.

Click here for more information and brochure.

To apply online, please visit the City of Roanoke's job board at www.roanokeva.gov/jobs and submit an online application by 11:59 PM on Friday, November 14, 2025. Resumes may be attached; law school transcripts will be verified; only applicants selected for interviews will be requested to provide writing samples at time of interview. For additional questions, please contact Christopher Parker, Director of Human Resources.

The City of Roanoke is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA/M/F/Disability Employer.

To elevate the performance of the organization, we are committed to respecting, celebrating, and embracing the collective mixture of differences and similarities between our employees as a rich tapestry. Our behaviors will demonstrate open communication, and we will seek opportunities to learn, recognizing and rewarding actions that promote acceptance while suspending judgment. By doing this, we will foster an inclusive, open work environment that delivers excellent service and creates a more vibrant and inviting community.

This is an exempt position.

Examples of Duties

SUMMARY

Performs professional work rendering legal services to the City and school board; serves as chief legal advisor, attorney, and counsel for the City and the school board of the City, as well as all officers, and departments in matters relating to their official duties. Responsibilities entail accountability based on measurable cost-effective results for the substance, efficiency, productivity and quality of activities performed within divisions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned

Manages, supervises and reviews the work of attorneys and legal support staff, as well as managing the office budget, support contracts, etc.

Provides legal services to a directorate and to major boards and commissions, personally advising the heads of such groups on legal matters.

Also provides legal counsel to other City and School staff as requested.

Attends City Council meetings.

Attends School Board meetings.

Attends meetings of boards and commissions of the City and renders on-the-spot legal advice.

Drafts ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, leases, releases, franchises and other complicated legal documents on behalf of the City.

Prepares drafts of bills for introduction in the Virginia General Assembly.

Prosecutes suits, actions and proceedings for and on behalf of the City.

Processes and defend legal claims against the City.

Prepares cases for trial, interviewing witnesses, examining law and evidence.

Attend school board meetings and provide oversight to legal team on truancy cases.

Represents the City in complex trial and appellate litigation.

Researches, interprets, and applies laws, court decisions, and other legal authority in the preparation of opinions and briefs.

Analyzes legislation including proposed state and federal legislation affecting the City.

Reviews the legality and/or sufficiency of contracts, bonds, bids, leases, insurance and claims.

Serves the City's interests in various contract negotiations.

Conducts title searches, certifies titles and handles real estate closings.

Renders legal advice on complex matters on a daily basis to officers, departments and agencies of the City and Schools.

Performs other duties that may be required by ordinance, resolution, or City Council.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Manages a staff of 5-6 Attorneys and 3 Administrative Legal Assistants in the day-to-day operations of a multi-practice law office, including the determinations for the appropriate outsourcing of legal work. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Typical Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Law degree; ten years progressively responsible experience and/or training in the practice of law; preferably municipal law and administrative experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Employment requires licensure by the Virginia State Bar and must have the ability to maintain membership as a condition of continued employment.

Supplemental Information

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints orally or in writing. Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics. Ability to handle complex trial and appellate litigation and demonstrated skill in legal drafting.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Eligibility to practice law in the State of Virginia. Must possess a valid appropriate driver's permit issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

This is a job description and not an individualized position description. A job description defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but it is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.

Overview of Benefits for Full-Time Employees:

Paid leave is time off from work available for use by an employee upon approval by supervisor. The first 24 consecutive leave hours for any illness must be charged to paid leave with additional time charged to extended illness leave. Paid leave for employees of the city shall accrue as follows:

Years of Service Hours Per Month Fire 24-hr shift Employees
0 - 4 12 19.75
5 - 9 14 22.75
10- 14 16 25.50
15 - 19 17 26.75
20 - 24 18 28.75
25 + 20 32

Extended Illness Leave: shall accrue at the rate of six (6) hours per month. Fire suppression employees shall accrue extended illness leave at nine (9) hours per month.
Funeral Leave: for family, up to three consecutive days.
Military Leave: Twenty-one work days per Federal fiscal year.
Holidays: The City provides 96 hours of annual paid holiday time.

Mental Health & Well-Being Leave: Employees receive 24 hours (Fire Suppression receives 34 hours) of Mental Health & Well-Being Leave upon hire. Certification of mental health diagnosis is not required and leave will not be paid out upon separation.

Shared Leave Bank (effective 1/1/2023): Voluntary membership for full-time Employees who will be out for an extended period of time and has exhausted all other forms of leave. Members are required to provide 8 hours of their Extended Illness per fiscal year and at least 8 hours per assessment. Assessments will be limimted to 4 times per fiscal year (max of 40 hours per fiscal year).

Health Insurance: Four coverage types are available: Employee only, Employee + 1 Child, Employee + Spouse and Family. Coverage is available through payroll deduction.

Additionally, the city offers the following three Aetna Health Plan Options:

PPO 750 – Provides 100% coverage for preventive care; lower deductible and out-of-pocket maximums than other medical plans; and has higher employee premiums. This is comparable to the current insurance program.
PPO/HRA 1500 – Provides 100% coverage for preventive care; has higher deductible and out-of-pocket maximum than the PPO 300 plan; has lower employee premiums than the PPO 300 plan; and the employer makes contributions to an account through a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA). The City of Roanoke contributes $500 for employee only coverage and $1,000 for all other tiers. Contributions are pro-rated dependent upon enrollment date.
PPO/HDHP-HSA – Provides 100% coverage for preventive care; has higher deductible and out-of-pocket maximum than other medical plans; has lower employee premiums; and both the employer and the employee make contributions to a Health Savings Account (HSA) to pay for medical expenses which apply to the deductible. The City of Roanoke contributes towards the Health Savings Account (HSA), $1,600 for employee only coverage and $3,100 for all other tiers. Contributions are pro-rated dependent upon enrollment date.

Optum RX (Pharmaceutical Benefits Manager) - Manages pharmacy benefits, processes employee pharmacy claims and answers employee pharmacy benefit questions.

Aetna Health Plan 2025 Monthly Rates
PPO 750
Employee Only: $74.49
Employee + Child: $278.42
Employee + Spouse: $653.08
Family: $714.04

PPO/HRA 1500
Employee Only: $48.24
Employee + Child: $236.42
Employee + Spouse: $600.58
Family: $609.04

PPO/HDHP-HSA
Employee Only: $22.81
Employee + Child: $177.93
Employee + Spouse $498.08
Family: $500.51

Dental Insurance: Four coverage types are available: Family, Employee and Spouse, Employee and Child, and Employee only. Coverage is available through payroll deduction.

Delta Dental 2025 Monthly Rates
Employee: $2.80
Employee/Child: $18.88
Employee/Spouse: $18.88
Family: $49.36

Life Insurance: Paid by the City at no cost to employees. Coverage is equal to the annual salary rounded to the next highest thousand and then doubled. For an accidental death, the coverage would be twice this amount.

Optional Life Insurance: Paid by the employee. Various amounts of coverage, including family members, available through payroll deduction.

Long Term Disability Insurance: Designed to provide a monthly benefit to assist employees with bills and maintaining a standard of living when disabled as a result of a covered sickness or injury. Coverage is available through payroll deduction. Annual cost is your annual salary multiplied by .00255. This amount is half of the total premium and the City pays the other half.

Retirement: Employees contribute 5% of salary and choose between participating in a traditional defined benefit plan or a hybrid program. Employees vest in the employer component of either plan upon completing five (5) years of service.

Defined Benefit Pension Plan: Normal retirement after 55th birthday, and when combination of age and creditable service equals 85; or, 65th birthday if completed at least five years of creditable service. For sworn officers in Police and Fire/EMS, normal retirement after 50th birthday, and when combination of age and service equals 75; or, 65th birthday or older with 5 years of creditable service. An annual retirement benefit equals 2.0% of salary (based on an average of the highest five years) times the number of creditable years with a maximum of 63%. Early retirement options are available and reductions may apply based on age and service.

Hybrid Program: Provides the characteristics of the traditional pension plan with that of a deferred compensation plan. The pension plan provides an annual benefit equaling 1% of salary (based on an average of the highest five years) times the number of creditable years with a maximum of 63%. The deferred compensation component provides for the employee contribution to be deposited in an account directed by the member. The combination of the two components is structured to provide approximately the same actuarial benefit as the Defined Benefit Pension Plan. International City Management Association - Retirement Corporation (ICMA-RC) provides the third party administration of this deferred compensation plan for participating employees.

Sheriff's Department Employees are covered b the Virginia Retirement System (VRS). Previous service covered by VRS may be portable to the Roanoke Retirement System.

Retirement Health Savings Plan: All employees contribute 1% of salary to a 401(h) health savings account. Employees vest in the City match of 1% upon completing five (5) years of service. International City Management Association - Retirement Corporation (ICMA-RC) provides the third party administration of this plan for participating employees.
Deferred Compensation: Employees may voluntarily contribute salary deferred dollars into a City Sponsored 457 Plan. International City Management Association - Empower provides the third party administration of this deferred compensation plan for participating employees.

Flexible Spending Account: Allows employees to set aside pre-tax dollars from their pay checks to pay for child care and/or medical and dental expenses not covered by the City's health care or dental plans. You may also set aside pre-tax dollars to cover certain transit or parking expenses. Keep in mind only transit or parking expenses may be rolled over from year to year.

Virginia College Savings Plan: Two plans to choose from at a reduced application fee, Virginia Prepaid Education Program and the Virginia Education Savings Trust.

Employee Health Services: The City employee health services provides medical care for employees, retirees, and eligible spouses.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Support services available to assist employees facing life challenges.

Pay Days: Direct deposit is required for all new employees. Paid bi-weekly, 26 pay periods per year.

Vision Insurance: Paid by the Employee. Includes annual routine eye exam, discounts on eyeglass frames, eyeglass lenses and contact lenses.
CEC 2025 Monthly Rates
Employee: $6.68
Employee/Spouse: $12.69
Employee/Child(ren): $13.36
Family: $19.71

Discounts & Voluntary Benefits: Employees may access discounts through various national and local retailers. Discounts include 10% off auto insurance and 5% off home or renters insurance with Liberty Mutual. Voluntary benefits offered through Corestream. Critical Illness, Accident Insurance and Cancer Policies will be available through Colonial Life and Long Term Care will be available through Transamerica. All voluntary benefits may be payroll deducted.